Daijiworld Media Network - Goa
Melwyn Misquita - OHeraldo

Panjim, Apr 29: While prelates of Goan origin have been making their presence felt in the Vatican, the Goan laity is also being given a prominent role in the Holy See.

Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday appointed Guilherme Vaz, of Velim as member of the Pontifical Council for the Laity (PCL). Vaz is the only Indian appointed along with 14 others including Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, former private secretary to late Pope John Paul II as members to the Council.

A key dicastery (department) in the Roman Curia, the PCL has the responsibility of assisting the Pope in his dealings with the laity in lay ecclesial movements or individually, and their contributions to the Church.

When contacted, Vaz, who presently resides in Mumbai, admitted that his appointment places an awesome responsibility, which can only be humbling.
 
My appointment as a member of the PCL is at one level an honour and a privilege, but more importantly is an opportunity to serve the Universal Church, said Vaz, who is a director on IL&FS Education and Technology Services Ltd in Mumbai.

He informed that the role of all members at the Pontifical Council for the Laity would revolve around the ordinary activity of the Council, which involves a close network of contacts through correspondence, visits and study sessions.

These go together with the planning, the organization and implementation of more important projects, such as large gatherings (world consultations of the laity, world youth days) and laity congresses in different continents or regions.
 
The council, he said, would also be involved in international meetings on subjects of special interest and current relevance (women in Church and society, Christian witness in the world of work, pastoral action in the university), world meetings with representatives of international associations and ecclesial.